CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- Sean Collier had worked at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for only about a year. But he was already popular with his colleagues in the campus police department, as well as with students, often joining them on hiking and skiing trips.

Authorities say the 26-year-old Collier was shot and killed by the Boston Marathon bombing suspects.

MIT says Collier was a Wilmington native and Somerville resident who had worked at MIT since January 2012. Before that, he was a civilian employee of the Somerville Police Department.

MIT Chief John DiFava says Collier was a dedicated officer, liked by his colleagues and the MIT community.

MIT President L. Rafael Reif says Collier's loss is "deeply painful."

Collier was found shot several times in his vehicle at about 10:30 p.m. Thursday.